Fluid-motor.



No. 882,672. PATBNTBD MAR. 24-, 1908.

G. FRBBORG. FLUID MOTOR.

urnioulox FILED MAY 7, 1906.

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No. 882,672 PATENTED MAR. 24,1908.

G; FRBBORG.

FLUID MOTOR.

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UNITED OFFICE.

CHARLES FREBORG, OF DE KALB, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GULBRANSEN, DICKINSONCOM- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FLUID-Moron.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 24, 1908.

Application filed May 7, 1906. Serial No. 315,465.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES FREBORG, a citizen of the United. States,residing at De Kalb, in the county of Dekalb and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fluid Motors, of whichthe following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to fluid motors, particularly to air motors for usein automatically played pianos, and my invention contemplates improvedfeatures of construction which will be best understood with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a lan view of the motor.Fig. 2 is a front en elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a side elevationthereof. Fig. 4 is a sectional view through a cylinder and the valvemechanism taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectional'view of theair supply and valve chambers taken on line 55 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is anenlarged end view of a valve which I employ. Fig. 7 is a side elevationof the valve.

The motor is constructed entirely of metal and is provided with threecylinders 1, 2 and 3, whose rear walls are formed by the common plate 4,and whose front walls are formed by the common plate5, said plates-4 and5 being connected together by bolts 6-6 parallel to the cylinders. Themotor supporting frame comprises the side walls 7, 8 and 9, the basewall 10 and the rear wall 11. The cylinder frame is secured between thevertical extensions 12 and 13 from the side walls 7 and 8, theseextensions being preferably soldered or otherwise secured to the endcylinders. Arms 14, 15 and 16 extend forwardly and upwardly from thewalls 7, 8 and 9, respectively, and

in their ends is journaled the crank shaft 17 having the cranks 18, 19and 20 displaced 120 degrees from each other and disposed in alinementwith the cylinders 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The piston rods 21, 22 and23 of the cylinders each terminate in a piston head 24 and connectingrods 25, 26 and 27 respectively connect thepiston rods with therespective cranks on the crank shaft.

Extending between the front of the side walls 7 and 8 is the air chamber28 adapted for connection through a pipe 29 with a source of compressedair or suction. Immediately in front of the air chamber is the valvechest or tube 30, and as best shown in Fig. 4, each cylinder has twoconnections with said valve chest. An upper pipe 31 connects the frontpart of each cylinder with an upper opening 32 into the valve chest,while a lower pipe 33 connects the rear end of each cylinder with thelower opening 34 into the valve chest. The valve chest is divided intotwo compartments 35 and 36 by the partition 37, the pipes from cylinder1 leading to compartment 35, and this compartment is connected throughopening 38 with the air chamber 28, and with atmosphere through the openend 39 of the valve pipe. The pipes of the cylinders 2 and 3 connectwith the compartment 36, this compartment being connected throughopening 40 with the air chamber and to atmosphere through the opening 41and through the open end 42 of the valve chest, the opening 41 beingbetween the partition 37 and the inlet openings from the pipes ofcylinder 2, and the opening 40 being between the pipes of cylinders 2and 3. Before the set of openings of the pipes from each cylinder isdisposed a valve 43, the valves being cylindrical and fitting Within thecylindrical bore of the valve chest. A valve stem 44 extends from eachvalve through a slot 45 in the valve chest and through a connecting rod46 and crank head 47 pivots to the corresponding crank on the crankshaft, and thus upon reciprocation of the pistons and rotation of thecrank shaft the valves will be oscillated. The detail construction ofthe valves is shown in Figs. 6 and 7, each valve having diametricallyopposite grooves or channels 48 and 49 and an inlet groove or channel 50at 90 degrees with the outlet channels, the centers of the openings 32and 34 being also displaced 90 degrees. The valve for the cylinder 1 isarranged in the compartment 35 with its exhaust channels 48 and 49leading toward the outlet 39 and with its inlet channel 50 on the sideadj acent to the openings from the cylinder pipes. The valve forcylinder 2 is within compartment 36 with its exhaust channels leadingtoward the atmosphere outlet 41 and with its inlet channel adjacent tothe outlets of the pipes from cylinder 2. The valve of cylinder 3 isalso in compartment 36 with its exhaust channels leading toward the openexhaust end 42 of the valve chest and with its inlet from cylinder 3.

In Fig. 4, the disposition of each valve with respect to the pipes fromthe corresponding cylinder is plainly shown, the inlet channel uponreciprocation of the valve being carried to and fro between the openings32 and 34 to alternately connect the front and the rear of the cylinderwith the air chamber 28, and when one end of the cylinder is connectedwith the air chamber the other end is in communication with atmospherethrough one of theexhaust channels. When the inlet channel communicateswith the rear end of the cylinder the exhaust channel 48communicateswith the front p art of the cylinder, and when the inletchannel communicates with the opening 32 and the front part of thecylinder, the rear end of the cylinder communicates with atmospherethrough pipe. 33 and, exhaust channel 49. The operation of allthe valvesis similar, but there is a displacement of 120 degrees between them.This-arrangement of the valves and the feeding of. energy to both thefront and rear of the pistons gives the same effect as six cylindersiniwhich energy is supplied to only one side of the cylinder. The motor,therefore, with the same number of parts is given double efficiency andits operation is very regular andsteady.

This motor may be driven by air under pressure or vacuum, or may bedriven also by liquid, such as water, and the motor may be utilized fordriving any mechanism. I have, however, shown it utilized for drivingthe music roll and the take up roll for a me chanically operatedinstrument, such as a piano or, organ, and I also provide controllingand. switching mechanism. Loosely mounted on the crank shaft between thearms 14 and 16 and adjacent the arm 14.- is a pinionz51having a clutchtooth 52 extending from its side to the left. Loosely mounted on thecrank shaft with and adjacent the arm 16 isa sprocket gear 53 having aclutch pin54 extending to the right. Keyed to the crank shaftbetween thepinion and gear to be. longitudinally movable thereon is the clutchcollar 55 having the clutch pins 56 and 57 for engagement with theclutch pins 52 and 54 respectively. A clutch lever 58 pivoted to theframe 59 has the forked end 60 for engaging the clutch collar, and a rod6]. pivoted to the clutch lever at 62 extends to the right, passingthrough the guideway 63 secured to the frame, as best shown in Fig. 2.Interposed in the pipe 29 is a cylindrical valve chamber or seat 64: inwhich engages the valve 65 having a V-shaped notch 67 cut initsperiphery, as best shown in Fig. 3. An actuating arm 68 extends from thevalve, and as the arm is oscillated the valve notch will. move by theopening 69 from the valve When the arm is in its extreme position to theright, the valve will be wide open, and when the arm is in its extremeposition to the left, as shown in dotted lines, the valve will beentirely closed. Extending from the front face of the valve are theposts 70 and 71 between which the upturned end 72 of the rod 61 extends.These posts are near the periphery of the valve, and their angulardisplacement is such that the valve may be moved through an areindependently of the rod 61. hen the rod, however, reaches its extremeright position,

post 70will come into engagement with and cause movement to the left ofthe rod 61.

The valve lever may then be rotated toward;

the left a considerable distance without causing movement of the rod 61,but when: the lever reaches its extreme left position, post 71 comesinto engagement with the rod 61 and returns this rod to its position. atthe right. hen the rod is moved. toward the left, it causes clutchcollar 55 to'engage with gear 53 to connect said gear in drivingrelation with the crank shaft, and. when the rod 61 is moved totheright, the'clutch collar 53 will connect the pinion 51 in: drivingrelation. with the crank shaft, and, therefore, the crank shaft can bemade to drive either the gear 53 or pinion 51 todr-ive either the shaftor the shaft 73. After the valve lever has been. moved to an extremeposition to carry the rod in one direction and to establish certaingearing relations, the valve may then be operated independently througha wide range to control the air flow to the motor cylinders, it beingonly at the extreme end. of the throw of the valve lever that the clutchrod 61 is moved by the posts 70 or, 71.

A shaft 73 journaled in the arms 14: and 16.

supports a gear 74 which meshes with the pinion 51. 7 and 9 to therearof the shaft 73 and supports a sprocket wheel 76 connected with thesprocket wheel 53 by the chain 77. The. shaft 75 may engage with theroller on which the music to be wound isplayed, this roller notbeingshown. The shaft 73 may engage with a roller (not shown) for takingup the music from the roller connected. with the shaft 75 after itspassage over the tracker board in the well known manner. clutch collarwhich is keyed to the crank shaft isslid to connect with the pinion 51,the gear 74 and shaft 73 will be driven at a suitable speed, thesprocket gear 53 being idle during this time. After the music has beenplayed the clutch collar engageswith the sprocket gear 53 and theadjustment may be such that the roller connected with the shaft 75 isdriven at a suitably increased speed to rewind the music from the rollerconnected to shaft 73. During this rewinding period the arm 68 is at theextreme right A shaft 75 bears inthe side walls- When the chamber tocontrol the passage of energizing channel adjacent to the openings ofthe pipes I fluid to the chamber 28.

and the'valve 65 wide open. Preparatory to driving the roller connectedwith shaft 73, the valve is completely closed, and upon movement towardthe right, the valve is opened and the motor started, its speed beingthen controlled and varied, as desired, by the manipulation of the lever68 to adjust the V-shaped slot of the valve.

The motor being constructed entirely of metal is free from distortion orwarping, whichwould take place were the motor constructed of wood orother less permanent material. The movable parts can also be much betterlubricated and the friction reduced to a minimum, andin a motor of thiskind there is also less wasted energy resulting from leakage of thefluid.

Changes may readily be made in the exact construction and disposition ofthe parts without departing from the spirit of myinvention, and I donot, therefore, wish to be limited to the construction and arrangementshown and described.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a fluid motor, the combination with a plurality of cylinders 1, 2and 3, each having a piston therein, of a -crank shaft having angularlydisplaced crank arms connected with said piston, a common valve chest inthe form of a cylindrical tube, a cylindrical valve in said valve chestfor each cylinder, each valve beingconnected with the correspondingcrank arm to .be oscillated upon rotation of the crank shaft, a supplychamber adjacent said valve chest and communicating therewith, aconnection from the front end of each cylinder to a port opening in saidvalve chest, a connection from the rear end of each cylinder to anotherport opening in the valve chest, exhaust openings from said valve chest,a supply channel 50 for each valve adapted upon oscillation of the valveto alternately connect with the port openings whereby fluid isalternately fed to front and rear ends of the cylinders, and exhaustchannels 48 and 49 for each valve adapted to connect one end of thecylinder with the atmosphere, while the other end is in con nection withthe supply source.

2. In a fluid motor, the combination with a cylinder having a pistontherein, of a crank shaft connected with the piston to be rotated, adriving pinion on said crank shaft, a driving gear on said crank shaft,a valve chest, a

supply chamber connected with a fluid supply source through asupplypipe, a valve within the valve chest controlled by the movementsof the piston to control the supply of energy from said supply chamberto the cylinder, a valve in the supply pipe, clutch mechanism associatedwith the driving pinion and gear, lever mechanism extending from theclutch mechanism and in engagement with the valve in the supply pipe,said valve when moved in one direction causing the supply pipe to beopen and causing movement of the lever mechanism to engage the clutchmechanism with the driving gear, said valve when moved in the oppositedirection causing closure of the passageway and causing actuation of thelever mechanism to engage the clutch mechanism with the driving pinion.

3. In a fluid motor, the combination with a cylinder having a pistonadapted for reciprocation therein, of a crank shaft connected with thepiston, driving gears on said shaft, a valve chest, a fluid supplychamber adjacent said valve chest and in communication therewith, asupply pipe in said supply chamber, a supply valve in said supply pipe,a controlling valve in said valve chest controlled by the reciprocationof the piston to control the How of energy to the cylinder from thesupply chamber, a clutch collar keyed. to the shaft between the drivinggears, lever mechanism extending from the clutch mechanism to the mainvalve, extensions 70 and 71 from the main valve, and extensions 72 fromthe lever mechanism adapted for engagement with the extensions 70 and 71when the valve approaches its extreme position, said main valve whenmoved toward one extreme position causing opening of the passageway andactuation of the lever mechanism to connect the clutch with one drivinggear, actuation of the valve toward its other extreme position causingclosure of the passageway and actuation of the lever mechanism to movethe clutch mechanism into engagement with the other gear.

4. In a fluid motor, the combination of a cylinder having a piston forreciprocating therein, a crank shaft connected with the piston to berotated upon reciprocation of the piston, a driving gear, and a drivingpinion loosely mounted on said crank shaft, a clutch collar on saidcrank shaft between the gear and pinion, said collar beinglongitudinally movable on said crank shaft but keyed thereto to rotatetherewith, a valve chest, a fluid supply chamber connected with thevalve chest, a valve in the chest for controlling the fluid supply tothe cylinder,

a main valve controlling the flow of fluid to the fluid chamber, andconnecting means between the clutch collar and the main valve mechanism,said main valve mechanism through a certain range of movement beingindependent of the connecting mechanism but adapted for actuating saidconnecting mechanism throughout another range of movement to causemovement of the clutch collar to connect the crank shaft with either thegear or pinion thereon.

5. In a fluid motor, the combination of a cylinder havin a piston forreciprocating therein, a cran k shaft connected with the piston, a fluidsupply reservoir, a valve for controlling the connection of the cylinderwith the fluid reservoir, a main valve controlling the supply of fluidto the reservoir, clutch mechanism on the crank shaft, gearing mechanismadapted for connection with said clutch mechanism, and connectingmechanism between the clutch mechanism and the main valve adapted to beactuated during certain ranges of movement of the main valve mechanismto operate the clutch mechanism, said main valve mechanism duringanother range of movement being independent of the connecting mechanismwherey the flow of fluid to the fluid reservoir may be controlled.

6. In a fluid motor, the combination of a cylinder having a piston forreciprocation therein, a crank shaft connected with the piston, a fluidreservoir, valve mechanism for controlling the connection of the fluidreservoir with the cylinder, an oscillatory main valve for controllingthe supply of fluid to the reservoir, clutch mechanism driven by thecrank shaft, gearing mechanism ada ted for connection with the clutchmec anism, and connecting mechanism between the clutch mechanism and themain valve, said connecting mechanism being operated by the main valveonly at the ends of its oscillation to connect the clutch mechanism withthe gearing mechanism, said main valve during an intermediate part ofits oscillation being independent of the connecting mechanism.

7. In a fluid motor, the combination of a supporting frame of sheetmetal, a plurality of cylinders mounted side by side in arow on saidframe, a piston and a piston rod for each cylinder, a valve chamber inthe form of a tube mounted on the frame in front of the cylinders, apipe leading from the front of each cylinder to the top of the tubularchamber, a pipe leading from the rear of each cylinder to the bottom ofthe tubular chamber, a flat air reservoir disposed adjacent the tubularchamber and between the upper and lower pipes, a rotary valve associatedwith each set of pipes and with the reservoir, and a connecting rodconnecting each valve with the crank shaft to be oscillated uponrotation of the crank shaft.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 16th day of AprilA. D., 1906.

CHARLES FREBORG.

Witnesses:

G120. A. JAMES, L AXEL G. GULBRANsEN.

